Authentication system for networked computer applications

ABSTRACT

A system such as in a networked computer system comprising a user, an application server, a gatekeeper server and an authentication server. Communication within the system is managed by the gatekeeper server, wherein the user communicates with the authentication server and the application server through the gatekeeper server. Once the user has been initially authenticated by the authentication server, the user may request application services from a plurality of application servers within the networked computer system without having to be re-authenticated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of, and claims priority toprovisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/531,695, filed on Dec.23, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and a method for protectingapplications within a networked computer system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Businesses and individuals are increasingly dependent on computers andcomputer-based electronic communication. More and more businesses aremoving toward “paperless” modes of operation, and the convenience of theInternet has resulted in individuals using electronic media for variousactivities, such as communicating via email, banking, paying bills,investing money and shopping, to name but a few. While businesses andindividuals desire the convenience of electronic transactions, theseentities also want to maintain at least the same level of security thatmore traditional transactional methods provide. However, in some ways,more traditional transactions are inherently more secure than electronictransactions because computers may easily be used to intercept theinformation being communicated between two or more computers.Accordingly, techniques have been created to secure information beingcommunicated electronically.

Many of these techniques make use of various aspects of cryptography.Cryptography is the study of sending and/or receiving a message in asecret form so that only those authorized to receive the message areable to read it. Cryptography may be used for any form of communication,but for the purposes of this application, cryptography for electroniccommunication will be discussed. Examples of cryptographic techniquesinclude symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption and hashing. Forelectronic communication, an encrypted message may be transformed into asecret form using an encryption key and then may be transformed backinto its original or clear form with a decryption key.

In addition to cryptographic functions for securing information,entities desiring to protect information that is stored electronicallymay also create defined communication relationships between componentswithin a networked computer system and a user wishing to access serviceswithin the system. For example, a networked computer system may requirethat a user be authenticated before being able to receive services froman application within the networked computer system.

In a conventional networked computer system, user authentication mayoccur at each application server individually, i.e., each applicationserver is responsible for authenticating a user when the user requestsservices from that application server. This conventional authenticationprocess requires a user to be authenticated for each application serverthat it wishes to access within the networked computer system.

It is desirable to provide a more efficient, flexible and secureauthentication system and method for receiving services from anapplication server in a networked computer system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for authenticatinga user within a networked computer system. The system comprises a user,an application server, a gatekeeper server and an authentication server,wherein communication within the system is managed by the gatekeeperserver.

According to the method of the present invention, the user presentscredentials to the gatekeeper server, and the gatekeeper server providesthe presented user credentials to the authentication server. Theauthentication server authenticates the user. The authentication servercreates an authentication token upon authentication of the user andtransmits the authentication token to the application server.Transmission of the authentication token to the application server fromthe authentication server may comprise transmitting the authenticationtoken to the gatekeeper server and then the application server. Theauthentication server may encrypt the authentication token after it hasbeen created. It is preferred that an encryption key used by theauthentication server to encrypt the authentication token is shared bythe authentication server and application server, but not shared withthe gatekeeper server. The authentication server may also digitally signthe authentication token after it has been created. It is preferred thatthe authentication server sign the authentication token with a key pair,wherein at least a portion of the key pair is shared with theauthentication server and application server.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a conventional authentication system fornetworked computer applications.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of the networked computer system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of the authentication process for a user beginninga login session and initially accessing an application server within theauthentication zone of the networked computer system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the process of a login serverauthenticating a user.

FIG. 5 is a depiction of the structure and content of the inner tokencreated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a first flowchart illustrating the verification process thatan application server performs when it receives an encrypted inner tokenand token ID from a web server for the first time.

FIG. 6B is a second flowchart illustrating the verification process thatan application server performs when it receives an encrypted inner tokenand token ID from a web server for the first time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the inner token bythe web server after receiving the inner token back from the applicationserver.

FIG. 8A is a depiction of the structure and content of the outer tokencreated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8B is a depiction of a combined token including the contents of theouter token and the inner token of FIGS. 5 and 8A.

FIG. 9 is a depiction of the process of a subsequent visit by a user toa previously accessed application server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the verification process that anapplication server performs upon the subsequent receipt of an encryptedinner token and token ID from a web server.

FIG. 11 is a depiction of the process by which a user accesses a secondapplication server after being initially authenticated by the loginserver.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiments of the present invention ismerely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit theinvention, its application, or uses. The present invention has broadpotential application and utility, which is contemplated to be adaptableto a wide range of entities for securing and limiting access toapplications and information within a networked computer system. Forexample, it is contemplated that the authentication system and methodfor networked computer applications would be beneficial for use by anybank that provides online banking, investment and/or mortgage services.Additionally, it is contemplated that the system and method of thepresent invention would be equally beneficial for user authentication byany retail business that provides online retail services. Further, thesystem and method of the present invention would be beneficial to anyentity maintaining secure applications and information that are accessedby third-party computers or users. The following description is providedherein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enablingdisclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substanceof the invention.

A networked computer system comprises an application server, a databasesystem, a gatekeeper server, and a user such as a person, computer, orsoftware application. In a networked computer system that includesapplication servers capable of accessing sensitive information,protective relationships may be implemented to limit access to thesensitive information.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an embodimentof a conventional networked computer system 10. The conventional system10 may comprise one or more protected application servers 32, 36, aprotected database system 28, a gatekeeper server 30 and a user 12. Oneof ordinary skill will understand that an application server 32, 36 maycomprise a plurality of application functions (not shown). Similarly, adatabase system 28 may comprise a plurality of databases (not shown).The gatekeeper server 30 communicatively connects the applicationservers 32, 36 and the user 12. In fact, the user 12 may not communicatewith the application servers 32, 36 except through the gatekeeper server30.

In order to receive services from an application server 32 within thesystem 10, a user 12 may contact the gatekeeper server 30 and requestservices from the application server 32 by offering user credentials tothe gatekeeper server 30 (step 101). The gatekeeper server 30 forwardsthe user credentials to the application server 32 (step 102), whichcomprises an authentication application 33. The authenticationapplication 33 compares the given user credentials with the usercredentials stored in the database system 28 or the mainframe of theoperating entity (not shown). If the user 12 is authenticated, theapplication server 32 creates an authentication token, which comprisesthe user credentials. If the user 12 is not authenticated, communicationends.

The application server 32 encrypts the authentication token with anencryption key shared among all servers in the networked computersystem. The application server 32 then sends the encryptedauthentication token and application response to the gatekeeper server30 (step 103). The gatekeeper server 30 creates another token, namely anouter token, to be wrapped around the authentication token. The outertoken comprises a time stamp that is used to ensure that the outer tokenhas not become stale. The outer token and authentication token togethercomprise a combined token, which is encrypted by the gatekeeper server30 with the same encryption key used by the application server 32. Thegatekeeper server 30 forwards the encrypted combined token and aresponse by the application server to the user 12 (step 104).

If the user 12 wishes to access the application server 32 again, theuser 12 presents the encrypted combined token to the gatekeeper server30 and requests access to the application server 32 again. Thegatekeeper server 30 decrypts the outer token to ensure that thecommunication has not timed out. Assuming the outer token has nottimed-out, the gatekeeper server 30 presents the encryptedauthentication token and the request by the user 12 to the applicationserver 32 (step 102). The application server 32 decrypts the inner tokenand, using the authentication application 33, compares the informationcontained in the inner token against the information stored in thedatabase system. If the user 12 is authenticated again, the applicationserver 32 creates a new authentication token, encrypts theauthentication token and sends the authentication token, along with theapplication server 32 response, to the gatekeeper server 30 (step 103).The gatekeeper server 30 creates a new outer token with a new timestamp, combines the authentication token and outer token, encrypts thecombined token with the shared encryption key and sends the encryptedcombined token and the application server response to the user 12 (step104). Subsequent requests by the user 12 for services may follow theprocedure set forth above.

If a user 12 wishes to access a second application server 36 within thenetworked computer system 10, the second application server 36 has toperform the same process that the first application server 32 performedto authenticate the user 12. This duplicative process is indicated bydotted flow lines indicating communication between the gatekeeper server30 and application server 36 in FIG. 1. In a system. 10, a secondapplication server 36 does not receive the benefit of the userauthentication previously performed by another application server 32within the system 10. Rather, each subsequent application server 36 hasto repeat the same process for authenticating a user 12 that the firstapplication server 32 has already performed.

The system 10 is relatively easily compromised because it utilizes asingle encryption key that is shared by each of the servers in thesystem 10. In this system 10, a user 12 may be limited to utilizing ausemame and password for authentication because of the limitedfunctionality of the authentication application 33, 35 in theapplication servers 32, 36. Additionally, requiring each subsequentapplication server within the system 10 to authenticate a user 12 thathas already been authenticated by a first application server isunnecessarily time consuming for the system 10 and for the user 12.Furthermore, because the inner token of this system 10 has no time-outfunction, an inner token could theoretically be valid for an indefiniteperiod of time. The availability of valid inner tokens for an indefiniteperiod of time is a further disadvantage of this system 10.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary networked computer system 110 in accordancewith the present invention. The networked computer system 110 of FIG. 2comprises application servers 32, 36, a database system 28, a gatekeeperserver 30, an authentication server 16 and a user 12. In thisembodiment, a login server is the authentication server 16 and a webserver is the gatekeeper server 30. The web server 30 acts as acommunication hub for the networked computer system 110. Specifically,the user 12, the login server 16 and the application servers 32, 36 allcommunicate with the web server 30 and with one another through the webserver 30. In addition to being the communication hub for the networkedcomputer system 110, the web server 30 also provides a protectivegatekeeper function, i.e., the web server 30 will not forward a userrequest to an application server 32, 36 unless the user 12 making therequest has been authenticated by the login server 16. In this manner,the application servers 32, 36 are protected from a user 12 that has notbeen authenticated. As a short-hand way to designate the communicationrelationship between the user 12, the web server 30, the applicationservers 32, 36 and the database system 28, with which the applicationservers 32, 36 communicate, the application servers 32, 36 and databasesystem 28 are said to be in an authentication zone 20. Only a requestmade by an authenticated user 24 (best shown in FIGS. 9 & 11) will beforwarded by the web server 30 into the authentication zone 20. However,once a user 12 has been authenticated, he or she will be allowed torequest application services from any application server 32, 36 withinthe authentication zone 20 without having to be re-authenticated by thelogin server 16. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that a pluralityof application servers may be located within the authentication zone andfurther that a plurality of application servers may be needed to provideapplication services for a single application. For purposes of thisapplication, the reference numeral 12 will be utilized to designate auser that has not been authenticated by the login server, and thereference numeral 24 will be utilized to designate a user that has beenauthenticated by the login server 16.

The web server 30 also provides a protective function for the loginserver 16 by prohibiting a user 12 from directly communicating with thelogin server 16. The login server 16 does not receive directcommunication from the user 12, the application servers 32, 36 or thedatabase system 28. Since a user 12 must be authenticated in order forcommunication from the user 12 to be forwarded into the authenticationzone 20, the login server 16 is not located in the authentication zone20. In order to further secure the login server 16, an additionalsecurity measure 26 that prevents unauthorized communication, such as afirewall, may be disposed between the login server 16 and the othercomponents of the system 110.

FIG. 3 depicts the authentication process for a user 12 beginning alogin session and initially accessing an application server 32 withinthe authentication zone 20 of the networked computer system 110 of FIG.2. For exemplary purposes, the user 12 in this example may be anindividual trying to access his or her account information (applicationserver 32) on a bank web site (web server 30). A user 12 will begin bypresenting his or her credentials, which in this example may be a username and password, to the web server 30 (step 301). User credentials mayalso include a digital certificate, a portable hardware device such as asecure identification card or any combination of credentials. Thesecurity protocol of the entity operating the networked computer system110 will determine the nature of the credentials which will be accepted.Additionally, the system and method of the present invention assumes auser's initial registration with the entity operating the networkedcomputer system 110, whereby the user 12 provides identificationinformation to the entity and the entity stores this identificationinformation with the user's credentials for later authentication.Registration methods of this type are conventional and thus furtherexplanation is not provided herein. The web server 30 then presents theuser's credentials to the login server 16 (step 302).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the login server 16 authenticating auser 12. When the login server 16 receives user credentials from the webserver 30 (step 405), the login server 16 compares the presentedcredentials with the credentials stored for the registered user 12 (step415). If the values match, the user 12 is authenticated. However, if thevalues do not match, then the login server 16 sends an error messageback to the web server 30 (step 420). The web server 30 then maydetermine whether to end communication or to allow the user 12 toreenter his or her credentials. One of ordinary skill will appreciatethat comparing stored credentials to presented credentials is only onemethod of authenticating a user 12. Other methods may includealgorithmic verification through message exchange between the loginserver 16 and a user 12 presenting a digital certificate or a challengeresponse protocol implemented when a user 12 utilizes a hardware tokenas his or her credentials. Regardless of the authentication methodutilized, once the user 24 is authenticated, the login server 16 beginsa login session by creating a token 50, in this example an inner token50, that identifies the authenticated user 24 and the login session(step 425).

It is an advantage of the present invention to separate the loginfunction from the application function as it provides flexibility to thenetworked computer system 110. In a conventional system, a user 12 islimited to certain credentials because of the limited functionality ofthe authentication application 33 within the application server 32.Typically, a user 12 is required to have a user name and password forauthentication. In the context of a user 12 that is a computer orsoftware application, this requirement is a limitation. In contrast, thesystem of the present invention can authenticate any user 12 having acredential recognized by the web server 30 and login server 16.

The login server 16 of the present invention creates an inner token 50with a defined format, which is independent of the credential presentedby a user 12 for authentication. Application servers 32, 36 within theauthentication zone 20 will accept the inner token 50 created by thelogin server 16 regardless of the credential type that a user 12utilized for authentication. The advantage of the login server 16authenticating a user 12 and creating an inner token 50 that isrecognized by all application servers 32, 36 within the authenticationzone 20 is that these application servers 32, 36 are assured that theuser 24 requesting services from them has been authenticated already.Application servers 32, 36 rely on authentication of the login server16, specifically the inner token 50 created by the login server 16,rather than having to re-authenticate a user 24 for each new applicationserver 32, 36 within a single login session.

FIG. 5 depicts the structure and content of the inner token 50 createdin FIG. 4. The inner token 50 is a data structure that comprises aplurality of data nodes that store information that may be used toidentify the authenticated user 24 and the token 50 itself The innertoken 50 comprises a token ID 51, which is a unique identifier for eachinner token 50 created. One of ordinary skill in the art will understandthat a networked computer system 110 may contain multiple login servers16 and multiple users 12. Accordingly, the number of inner tokens 50created may easily number into the millions. As such, the task ofcreating a unique token ID 51 for every inner token 50 in a networkedcomputer system 110 is not inconsequential. In order to ensureuniqueness of the token ID 51, data values such as time of tokencreation or login server ID may be used in creating the token ID 51. Theinner token 50 also comprises a token time 52, which represents the timewhen the login session begins and the inner token 50 is created orissued. The token time 52 is the official time for the inner token 50and may be used to determine whether an inner token 50 has timed-out.The purpose and use of a time-out function will be explained in greaterdetail below.

The inner token 50 also comprises a user ID 53, which is a uniqueidentifier for each authenticated user 24. The user ID 53 may be a username or some other identifier inserted into the inner token 50 by thelogin server 16. However, the user ID 53 is not necessarily the username or user value entered by a user 12 when requesting applicationservices. The inner token 50 may also comprise an emulator data space54. The emulator space 54 may not be filled with data every time aninner token 50 is created. Rather, the emulator data space 54 is used inthe instance when an authenticated user 24 requests that a third-partyaccess an application server 32 in the authentication zone 20 on behalfof the authenticated user 24. In the present example, the emulator dataspace 54 may be used when a bank customer having difficulty accessinghis or her account balance requests that a bank service representativeaccess his or her account information to determine where the problem isoccurring. In this example, the service representative's identificationinformation will be entered into the emulator space 54 of the innertoken 50. If emulation is not occurring, the emulation space 54 may beset to void.

As is depicted in FIG. 4, once the inner token 50 has been created, thelogin server 16 digitally signs the inner token 50 (step 430). The token50 may be digitally signed using an algorithm known as asymmetricencryption. Asymmetric encryption involves using a cryptographic keypair to secure information, in this instance, an inner token 50.Asymmetric key pairs may be used to encrypt a message or to verify theintegrity of a message. A key pair used to encrypt a message iscomprised of a private key or decryption key, which is known only to asingle user or a small group of users, and a public key or encryptionkey, which may be known by anyone. In order to encrypt and decrypt amessage, both the private key and public key of the key pair must beused. For example, a message may be encrypted by a sender using thepublic key of the intended recipient of the message. Once the recipientreceives the encrypted message, his or her private key may be used todecrypt the message. Additionally, as used herein for digital signature,key pairs may be used to verify the integrity of a message. For thisfunction, the key pair comprises a private key or digital signature keyand a public key or signature verification key. The private key may beutilized to sign a message or, in this instance, a token 50. The publickey then may be utilized to verify the integrity of the token 50. Inthis embodiment, the private signature key is stored in the login server16, and an application server 32, 36 may use the login server's publicverification key to verify the integrity of the signed inner token 50 bychecking the signature 55. Any asymmetric encryption function andasymmetric digital signature function may be utilized. Asymmetricencryption functions include, but are not limited to, RSA, ElGamal andvariants thereof, and Elliptic Curve ElGamal and variants thereof.Asymmetric digital signature functions include, but are not limited to,RSA, DSA or DSS (US Digital Signature Algorithm/Standard) and ECDSA(Elliptic Curve DSA).

After the inner token 50 has been digitally signed, the login server 16encrypts the inner token 50 (step 435). While the inner token 50 has nosize limitation, it is preferable that the token 50 be as compact aspossible. It is more preferable that the inner token 50 be less than orequal to 2 kilobytes. One of ordinary skill in the art, however, willrecognize that the degree of compaction depends upon the encryptionmethod employed. In the present embodiment, the login server 16 encryptsthe signed inner token 50 with a symmetric encryption key. Symmetricencryption involves using a single key that is shared among all userscommunicating with one another. A message is locked (encrypted) with akey and then the same key is used to unlock (decrypt) the message. Inorder to protect a message when using symmetric encryption, it is vitalto have a secure method to exchange the secret key to all users. Anysymmetric encryption function may be used. Symmetric encryptionfunctions include, but are not limited to, AES, DES, 3DES, IDEA, RC5,RC6.

In the present embodiment, the symmetric key used to encrypt the signedinner token 50 is shared by the login servers 16 in the networkedcomputer system 110 and application servers 32, 36 within theauthentication zone 20. The symmetric key is not shared with the webserver 30. This aspect of the system of the present invention is anadvantage over conventional systems 10 because the web server 30 isunable to access the encrypted inner token 50 created by the loginserver 16. Limited access to the inner token 50 provides more securityfor the information contained therein.

The signed inner token 50 may be encrypted using asymmetric encryptionrather than symmetric encryption. If asymmetric encryption is utilized,a different asymmetric key pair than the one utilized for signing theinner token 50 will be utilized for encryption and decryption of theinner token 50. In this embodiment, the login server 16 would encryptthe inner token 50 with the public key of the key pair of the particularapplication server 32, 36 that the authenticated user 24 wishes toaccess. The respective application server 32, 36 would then be able todecrypt the inner token 50 with its private key that matches the publickey used to encrypt the inner token 50. If asymmetric encryption is usedin the instant embodiment, it is preferred that all application servers32, 36 within the authentication zone 20 use the same asymmetricencryption key pair. In this manner, the login server 16 would be ableto use the same public key for encrypting inner tokens 50 for allapplication servers 32, 36 within the authentication zone 20.

After the signed inner token 50 is encrypted (step 435), the encryptedinner token 50 is sent by the login server 16 to the web server 30 alongwith the token ID 51 (step 440 and 303). The web server 30 sends a copyof the encrypted inner token 50 and the token ID 51 to a particularapplication server 32 in the authentication zone 20 (step 304). However,the communication of the web server 30 to the application server 32 issynchronous communication in that the web server 30 keeps a copy of theencrypted inner token 50 and the token ID 51 and sends a copy of each tothe application server 32. The web server 30 waits for a response fromthe application server 32 before continuing any action. FIGS. 6A & 6Bdepict the verification process that the application server 32 performsonce it receives the encrypted inner token 50 and the token ID 51 (step605). The application server 32 decrypts the encrypted inner token 50using the shared symmetric key (step 610). However, decrypting the innertoken 50 is not a destructive process, i.e., after the inner token 50 isdecrypted, the application server 32 possesses both the encrypted innertoken 50 and its decrypted contents. The application server 32 comparesthe token ID 51 in the inner token 50 to the token ID presented by thelogin server 16 (step 615). If the token ID values match, theapplication server 32 continues the verification process. If the tokenID values do not match, the application server 32 sends an error messageto the web server 30 (step 620). The web server 30 then determineswhether to terminate the login session or allow the user 24 to reenterhis or her credentials.

Assuming the token ID values match, the application server 32 checks thetoken time 52 to verify that the login session has not timed-out (step625). Specifically, the application server 32 subtracts the token time52 from the actual time to determine the length of time that the innertoken 50 has been in existence. The application server 32 then comparesthe time in existence with its time-out function. If the inner token 50has been in existence for less time than is provided in the time-outfunction, then the login session will continue. Each application server32, 36 within a networked computer system 110 has a security protocol,which includes a time-out function. The time-out function determines thelength of time that an authenticated user 24 will be able to use aninner token 50. The functionality of the application server 32, 36 willdetermine the length of the time-out function for that applicationserver 32, 36. For the present embodiment, an exemplary time-outfunction may be 30-90 minutes.

If an inner token 50 has not timed-out, the application server 32verifies the signature of the inner token 50 using the public key of thelogin server 16 (step 630). Lastly, the application server 32 verifiesthat the authenticated user 24 is a subscriber to the particularapplication server 32 being accessed (step 635). In the present example,this would include the banking server verifying that the authenticateduser 24 is a subscriber to the bank's online banking service. If any ofthe steps 625, 630 or 635 have a negative result, the application server32 sends an error message to the web server 30 (step 640). Once all ofthe verification steps are successfully completed, the applicationserver 32 begins an application session for the authenticated user 24(step 645). Depending upon the particular application server 32 beingaccessed, the application server 32 may create an application token whenthe application session begins for sending to the authenticated user 24.Some application servers 32, 36 create application tokens for sending tousers 24 and some do not. Whether an application server 32, 36 createsan application token does not affect the functionality of theauthentication system and method of the present invention.

After an application session has begun, the application server 32calculates a hash value for the encrypted inner token 50 and stores thehash value either in its own storage or in the database system 28 of theauthentication zone 20 (step 655). Hashing involves transforming aninput message of any size into an output or hash value of another,generally smaller, size using a mathematical algorithm. The hash valueis known as the message digest. The message digest is a “digitalfingerprint” of the input message and serves to maintain integrity ofthe hashed message by allowing a recipient to verify that the messagehas not been tampered with since being hashed. The hash value is thenstored in the authentication zone 20 for the lifetime of the particularapplication session.

The application server 32 sends an application server response and theapplication token (if created) to the web server 30 (step 305 and 660).FIG. 7 depicts the web server 30 creating an outer token 70 (step 710)and wrapping it around the inner token 50 to form a combined token 60(step 715).

FIG. 8A depicts the outer token 70 and its contents. The outer token 70is a data structure that comprises a plurality of data nodes that storeinformation that may be used to ensure the integrity of the tokenitself. The outer token 70 comprises the same token ID 51 that is in theinner token 50. It also may include a rolling time period 64 (RTP). Therolling time period 64 is the length of time that the outer token 70will be valid. In the present example, the rolling time period 64 ismeant to cover the time between each computer mouse click of aauthenticated user 24. The outer token 70 may also include a rollingtime stamp 65 (RTS). The rolling time stamp 65 is the time at which theouter token 70 is created. In the instant example, the rolling timestamp 65 is indicated in seconds. In order to determine whether theouter token 70 has timed-out, the web server 30 subtracts the rollingtime stamp 65 from actual time and compares the value to the rollingtime period 64. As long as the difference is less than the rolling timeperiod 64, the outer token 70 has not timed-out, i.e., the outer token70 is valid. The outer token 70 may also include a place holder 68 forindicating whether the token 70 is a standard use token or an emulationtoken.

The outer token 70 may include an authentication state indicator (AST)69, which indicates the form of authentication that was used by thelogin server 16. The authentication required for an application server32 may vary depending on the security requirements for the applicationserver 32. As such, some application servers 32 may require a specificform of authentication. The outer token 70 may also include a placeholder 75 for application specific data. For example, some applicationservers 32 require data that other application servers 36 do not requireand which are not included in any other portion of the outer token 70 orinner token 50. The application specific field 75 of the outer token 70can accommodate any additional information that an application server 32requires. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatadditional fields may be added to the outer token 70 as needed for anyparticular application server 32 or networked computer system 110. Theauthentication state indicator 69 and the application specific field 75are optional. When the inner token 50 and outer token 70 are combined,the combined token 60 includes an inner token key tag 66. The innertoken key tag 66 indicates the encryption key used to encrypt the innertoken 50. A key tag 66 is useful in a networked computer system 110 inwhich encryption keys are refreshed and rotated.

As is indicated in FIG. 7, once the outer token 70 is created andwrapped around the inner token 50, the combined token 60 is hashed usinga hash-based authentication code key (HMAC key) (step 720). Any hashingfunction may be used for the HMAC key including, but not limited to,MD5, SHA-1, SHA-232, SHA-256, SHA-504 and SHA-512. A hash value ormessage authentication code (MAC) 71 containing the result of the keyedhash function is attached to the combined token 60. The web server 30encrypts the combined token 60 with a symmetric key that is shared amongeach web server 30 in the networked computer system 110 (step 725). Thesymmetric key used to encrypt the combined token 60 is not shared withthe application server 32, 36 and login server 16. While the combinedtoken 60 has no size limitation, it is preferable that the token 60 beas compact as possible. It is more preferable that the combined token 60be less than or equal to 2 kilobytes. One of ordinary skill in the art,however, will recognize that the degree of compaction depends upon theencryption method employed.

An outer token key tag 61 indicating the keys used to encrypt and hashthe combined token 60 is attached to the encrypted combined token 60. Anetworked computer system 110 wherein all keys are not known to allservers is an advantage over a conventional system 10. In the system ofthe present invention, at least the login server 16, the web server 30and the application server 32 cooperate in order to provide therequested application services. This system between servers providesgreater security for application servers 32, 36 and information withinthe authentication zone 20.

Once the combined token 60 is encrypted, the web server 30 sends theapplication response, including the encrypted combined token 60 and theapplication token (if created) to the authenticated user 24 (step 306).In this example, this is the point when the authenticated user 24 at thebank web site will have access to his or her bank account. Informationsuch as checking account balance, savings account balance, etc. may beviewed.

Typically however, an authenticated user 24 will want to do more thanjust initially access an application server 32. An authenticated user 24may want to visit the application server 32 numerous times in oneapplication session in order to request additional information orservices. For example, the authenticated user 24 accessing his bankaccount, may want to see the checks or debit card transactions that havebeen processed since his last statement or transfer money from hischecking account to his savings account. Any of these requests forinformation or services constitute additional visits to the initiallyaccessed application server 32.

FIG. 9 depicts the process for an authenticated user 24 subsequentlyvisiting a previously accessed application server. The authenticateduser 24 requests a subsequent visit to the application server 32 bypresenting the combined token 60 and the application token (if created)to the web server 30 (step 901). In the present example, theauthenticated user 24 may wish to see the number of debit cardtransactions that have been processed since his last statement. To dothis, he will click on the portion of the web site which requests accessto debit card transactions. When he does this, the combined token 60 andonline banking token are returned to the web server 30.

The web server 30 decrypts the combined token 60 using the web serversymmetric key. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand thatnetworked computer systems may include multiple web servers 30.Accordingly, the same web server 30 that initially created the outertoken 70 and encrypted the combined token 60 may not be the web server30 that receives the authenticated user 24 request on a subsequentvisit. Using a symmetric encryption key that is shared among the webservers 30 of the networked computer system 110 allows any web server 30in the system to decrypt a combined token 60 encrypted by any other webserver 30 in the system. After the combined token 60 is decrypted, theweb server 30 calculates a hash value for the combined token 60utilizing the HMAC key indicated by the outer key tag 61 and comparesthis calculated hash value to the hash value 71 stored with the combinedtoken 60. Assuming the hash values match, the web server 30 verifiesthat the outer token 70 has not timed-out, i.e., the rolling time period64 has not been exceeded.

FIG. 10 depicts the verification process that an application server 32performs upon subsequent visit by an authenticated user 24. The webserver 30 sends the encrypted inner token 50, token ID 51 andapplication token (if created) to the application server 32 (step 904and 1005). On subsequent visits to the application server 32, theapplication server 32 does not have to perform the same verificationthat was performed upon the initial visit by the authenticated user 24.Rather, the application server 32 may calculate a hash of the encryptedinner token 50 (step 1010) and compare that hash value to the hash valuethat was computed and stored during initial user verification (step1015). Verifying an authenticated user 24 with a hash function uponsubsequent visits is faster than user verification upon an initial visitand saves computer functionality without sacrificing security. Theapplication server 32 will also verify its application token (ifcreated) upon subsequent visits by an authenticated user 24 and verifythat the token 50 has not timed out (step 1025). If step 1015 or 1025have a negative result, the application server 32 sends an error messageto the web server 30 (step 1020). Once verification is complete, theapplication server 32 processes the request, updates its applicationtoken (if created) (step 1030), and sends an application response to theweb server 30 (step 905 and 1040).

The web server 30 updates the rolling time stamp 65 in the outer token70, calculates a new hash value 71 for the combined token 60 andencrypts the combined token 60. The web server 30 returns theapplication response including the encrypted combined token 60 and theapplication token (if created) to the authenticated user 24 (step 906).In the present example, the authenticated user 24 will be able to seeall debit transactions since his last statement. The process of FIG. 9occurs for each subsequent user request to access an application server32, i.e., once an application server 32 has verified an authenticateduser 24 within a single login session, the process of FIG. 9 will befollowed for each subsequent request to that application server 32 bythe authenticated user 24.

An authenticated user 24 may want to access another application server36 within the authentication zone 20 during a login session. Forexample, the authenticated user 24 may wish to access his brokerageaccounts while he or she is logged-in to the bank web site. FIG. 11depicts the process of an authenticated user 24 accessing a secondapplication server 36 after being initially authenticated by the loginserver 16. When an authenticated user 24 requests access to a secondapplication server 36 in a single login session, the authenticated user24 will have an encrypted combined token 60 and an application tokenfrom the first application server 32 (if created).

The authenticated user 24 presents the encrypted combined token 60 andthe application token from the first application server 32 to the webserver 30 and requests access to a second application server 36 (step1101). The web server 30 decrypts the combined token 60, verifies theintegrity of the combined token 60 by comparing a calculated hash valueto the hash value 71 stored with the combined token 60, and verifiesthat the outer token 70 has not timed-out. The web server 30 presentsthe encrypted inner token 50 and token ID 51 to the second applicationserver 36 (step 1104). Since this is the first time that the secondapplication server 36 has been presented with a request from theauthenticated user 24, the second application server 36 will verify theauthenticated user 24 in the same manner that the first applicationserver 32 did upon initial visit. Specifically, the application server36 decrypts the encrypted inner token 50 using the shared symmetric key.The application server 36 verifies that the token ID 51 in the innertoken 50 matches the token ID 51 provided by the web server 30. Thesecond application server 36 then checks the token time 52 to verifythat the login session has not timed-out. The second application server36 verifies the signature of the inner token 50 using the public key ofthe login server 16. Lastly, the second application server 36 verifiesthat the authenticated user 24 is a subscriber to the particularapplication server 36 being accessed. In the present example, thebrokerage server verifies that the authenticated user 24 is a subscriberto the bank's online brokerage service. Once all of the verificationsteps are successfully completed, the second application server 36begins an application session for the authenticated user 24. Dependingupon the application server 36 being accessed, the application server 36may create an application token for sending to the authenticated user24.

After an application session has begun, the application server 36calculates a hash value for the encrypted inner token 50 and stores thehash value either in its own storage or in the database system 28 of theauthentication zone 20. The hash value is stored in the authenticationzone 20 for the lifetime of the particular application session.

The second application server 36 sends an application response includingthe application token (if created) to the web server 30 (step 1105). Theweb server 30 creates an outer token 70 that is wrapped around theencrypted inner token 50 to form a combined token 60. Once the outertoken 70 is created and wrapped around the encrypted inner token 50, ahash value is calculated for the combined token 60. A hash value 71containing the result of the keyed hash function is attached to thecombined token 60. The web server 30 encrypts the combined token 60 witha symmetric key that is known to all web servers 30, and an outer tokenkey tag 61 indicating the keys used to encrypt and hash the combinedtoken 60 is attached to the encrypted combined token 60. Once thecombined token 60 is encrypted and hashed, the web server 30 sends theencrypted combined token 60 and the application token (if created) withthe application response to the authenticated user 24 (step 1106). Inthis example, the authenticated user 24 at the bank web site will haveaccess to his or her brokerage account. The process depicted in FIG. 11may, be used to access any subsequent application server within a singlelogin session.

The processes described above, namely accessing a first applicationserver upon initial login, subsequently accessing an application serverafter login and accessing a second application server after login,encompass the scope of interactions that a user may desire whenaccessing application servers within an authentication zone. While theexamples provided above are for a user that is an individual accessingapplication servers through a web server, the system and method of thepresent invention is equally applicable to a user such as a computerapplication or software function accessing any application server withina protected zone.

The authentication system for protected computer applications providesseveral advantages over known authentication systems. The system of thepresent invention is more secure than conventional systems. In thepresent system, knowledge of encryption keys is separated by serverfunctionality, whereas, in conventional systems all encryption keys areknown by all servers. Separation of keys by functionality ensures thatat least three servers within the authentication system must cooperatein order to complete a user request. In this manner, a bad actor isunable to compromise the entire authentication system by compromisingmerely one server. Rather, communication will end and the bad actor willbe prohibited from entering the protection zone. Accordingly, the systemof the present invention ensures greater security within theauthentication system.

Additionally, separating the login functionality from the applicationfunctionality provides greater flexibility and security within theauthentication system. Applications and information within theauthentication zone are accessible to more types of users since a useris not limited to only using a user name and password as a credentialfor authentication. Further, aspects of the inner token provide greatersecurity for the system of the present invention. The digital signatureon the inner token verifies that the inner token has not beencompromised and has not been created by an entity other than the loginserver. The time-out function of the inner token ensures that an innertoken is not valid for an indefinite period of time. The unique token IDcreated by the login server provides further protection to theauthentication system. By placing the unique token ID in both the outerand inner token, the system is less vulnerable to “cut-and-paste”attacks whereby a bad actor attempts to enter the protected zone bycombining an outer token and an inner token that were not created to becombined, e.g, combine an inner token with time remaining with an newouter token when the outer token created for the inner token timed-out.Since the unique token ID is placed in both the outer token and innertoken, it will be readily apparent in a cut-and-paste type attack thatthe token IDs do not match.

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in theart that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility andapplication. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present inventionother than those herein described, as well as many variations,modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from orreasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoingdescription thereof, without departing from the substance or scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has beendescribed herein in detail in relation to a particular embodiment, it isto be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplaryof the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing afull and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosureis not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations,variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A method of authenticating a user by an authentication server in anetworked computer system, the method comprising: (a) presenting usercredentials by a user to a gatekeeper server; (b) providing presenteduser credentials by the gatekeeper server to an authentication server;(c) authenticating the user by the authentication server; (d) creatingan authentication token by the authentication server upon authenticationof the user; and (e) transmitting the authentication token by theauthentication server to an application server, wherein transmitting theauthentication token to the application server comprises transmittingthe authentication token by the authentication server to the gatekeeperserver and then transmitting the authentication token by the gatekeeperserver to the application server.
 2. The method of authenticating a userof claim 1, further comprising providing application services by anapplication server to the user.
 3. The method of authenticating a userof claim 1, further comprising digitally signing the authenticationtoken by the authentication server.
 4. The method of authenticating auser of claim 3, further comprising utilizing the digital signature toverify the authentication token.
 5. The method of authenticating a userof claim 4, wherein the application server verifies the authenticationtoken.
 6. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, furthercomprising verifying the authentication token by the application server.7. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, wherein theauthentication token comprises a plurality of data nodes stored thereinrepresenting a data structure.
 8. The method of authenticating a user ofclaim 7, wherein the data structure comprises: (a) a first data nodecomprising data indicating the time the data structure was created; (b)a second data node comprising data representing the user; and (c) athird data node comprising unique data identifying the data structure.9. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, further comprisingencrypting the authentication token by the authentication server. 10.The method of authenticating a user of claim 9, wherein encrypting theauthentication token comprises utilizing an encryption key shared by theauthentication server and application server to encrypt theauthentication token.
 11. The method of authenticating a user of claim10, further comprising decrypting the authentication token by theapplication server.
 12. The method of authenticating a user of claim 11,further comprising transmitting the authentication token by theapplication server to the gatekeeper server after transmitting theauthentication token by the authentication server to the applicationserver.
 13. The method of authenticating a user of claim 12, furthercomprising creating an outer token by the gatekeeper server.
 14. Themethod of authenticating a user of claim 13, further comprising wrappingthe authentication token with the outer token.
 15. The method ofauthenticating a user of claim 1, wherein the user is an individual. 16.The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, wherein the user is acomputer.
 17. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, whereinthe user is a software function.
 18. The method of authenticating a userof claim 1, wherein the user credentials comprise a user name andpassword.
 19. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, whereinauthenticating the user by the authentication server comprises comparingthe presented user credentials to stored user credentials.
 20. Themethod of authenticating a user of claim 1, wherein the user credentialscomprise a digital certificate.
 21. The method of authentication a userof claim 20, wherein authenticating the user by the authenticationserver comprises verifying the identity of the user by exchangingmessages between the authentication server and the user.
 22. The methodof authenticating a user of claim 1, wherein the user credentialscomprise a portable device containing data that identifies the user. 23.The method of authenticating a user of claim 1, wherein the usercredentials comprise a user input and a value generated by a portabledevice that verifies the user input.
 24. An authentication system withina networked computer system comprising: a user; an application server;an authentication server separate from the application server utilizedto authenticate a user; and an authentication token generated by theauthentication server, wherein the authentication token is utilized bythe application server to verify that the user has been authenticated bythe authentication server.
 25. The authentication system of claim 24,wherein the authentication server is communicatively connected to thenetworked computer system.
 26. The authentication system of claim 24,wherein communication to the authentication server is controlled by aprotective device.
 27. The authentication system of claim 26, whereinthe protective device is a firewall.
 28. The authentication system ofclaim 24, further comprising a gatekeeper server communicativelyconnected to the application server and the authentication server. 29.The authentication system of claim 28, wherein the authentication serverreceives direct communication only from the gatekeeper server.
 30. Theauthentication system of claim 28, wherein the application serverreceives direct communication only from the gatekeeper server.
 31. Amethod of authenticating a user within a networked computer system, themethod comprising: (a) providing an authentication server forauthenticating a user; (b) creating an authentication token by theauthentication server upon user authentication; (c) providing anapplication server; (d) providing a first encryption key; said firstencryption key being shared by the authentication server and theapplication server; and (e) encrypting the authentication token with thefirst encryption key.
 32. The method of authenticating a user of claim31, further comprising: (a) providing a second encryption key, saidsecond encryption key being an asymmetric key pair wherein theauthentication server stores the private key of the asymmetric key pair;and (b) digitally signing the authentication token by the authenticationserver with the private key of the asymmetric key pair before encryptingthe authentication token with the first encryption key.
 33. The methodof authenticating a user of claim 32, further comprising providing agatekeeper server.
 34. The method of authenticating a user of claim 33,further comprising providing a third encryption key, said thirdencryption key is stored on the gatekeeper server.
 35. The method ofauthenticating a user of claim 34, wherein said third encryption key isa symmetric key.
 36. The method of authenticating a user of claim 34,further comprising providing a plurality of authentication servers,application servers and gatekeeper servers, wherein the first encryptionkey is shared among the authentication servers and application servers,the private key of the second encryption key is stored on theauthentication servers and the third encryption key is shared among thegatekeeper servers.
 37. An authentication system within a networkedcomputer system, comprising: (a) an application server; (b) a gatekeeperserver; (c) an authentication server; and (d) a first encryption keyshared by the application server and authentication server, wherein thefirst encryption key is not shared with the gatekeeper server.
 38. Theauthentication system of claim 37, further comprising a secondencryption key, said second encryption key being an asymmetric key pair,wherein the authentication server stores the private key of theasymmetric key pair and the application server stores the public key ofthe asymmetric key pair.
 39. The authentication system of claim 37,wherein the first encryption key is a symmetric key.
 40. Theauthentication system of claim 37, further comprising a third encryptionkey stored by the gatekeeper server, wherein the third encryption key isnot stored by the application server or the authentication server. 41.The authentication system of claim 39, wherein the third encryption keyis a symmetric key.
 42. A computer-readable token having a plurality ofdata nodes stored therein and representing a data structure forverifying authentication of a user, comprising: (a) a first data nodecomprising data identifying the data structure; (b) a second data nodecomprising data indicating the time the data structure was created; and(c) a third data node comprising unique data representing the user. 43.The computer-readable token of claim 42, further comprising a fourthdata node comprising data representing the relationship between the userand the requester.
 44. The computer-readable token of claim 42, whereinthe third data node is derived from credentials presented by the user.45. The computer-readable token of claim 42, wherein the first data nodecomprises data derived from the second data node.
 46. Thecomputer-readable token of claim 42, wherein the first data nodecomprises data derived from data identifying a server.
 47. Thecomputer-readable token of claim 42, further comprising a second datastructure for securing data stored within the first data structure. 48.The computer-readable token of claim 47, wherein the second datastructure comprises: (a) a fifth data node comprising the data of thefirst data node; (b) a sixth data node comprising data indicating thetime the second data structure was created; and (c) a seventh data nodecomprising data indicating the time period for which the second datastructure will be valid.
 49. The computer-readable token of claim 48,wherein a hash function is performed on the computer-readable token by aserver.
 50. The computer-readable token of claim 48, wherein thecomputer-readable token is encrypted by a server.
 51. A combined token,comprising: an inner token; and an outer token, wherein the inner tokenis created by an authentication server and the outer token is created bya gatekeeper server.
 52. The combined token of claim 51, wherein theinner token comprises: (a) data indicating a time at which the innertoken was created; (b) data representing a user for whom the inner tokenwas created; and (c) unique data identifying the inner token.
 53. Thecombined token of claim 51, wherein the outer token comprises: (a) dataidentifying the inner token; (b) data indicating a time at which theouter token was created; and (c) data indicating a time period for whichthe outer token is valid.
 54. The combined token of claim 51, whereinthe inner token is digitally signed by an authentication server.
 55. Thecombined token of claim 51, wherein the inner token is encrypted by theauthentication server.
 56. The combined token of claim 51, wherein thegatekeeper server performs a hash function on the combined token. 57.The combined token of claim 51, wherein the gatekeeper server encryptsthe combined token.
 58. The combined token of claim 52, wherein the dataindicating a time at which the inner token was created is utilized todetermine whether the inner token is valid.
 59. The combined token ofclaim 53, wherein the data indicating a time at which the outer tokenwas created is compared to actual time to determine whether the outertoken is valid.
 60. The method of authenticating a user of claim 1,wherein the authentication token is less than or equal to 2 kilobytes.61. The authentication system of claim 24, wherein the authenticationtoken is less than or equal to 2 kilobytes.
 62. The method ofauthenticating a user of claim 31, wherein the authentication token isless than or equal to 2 kilobytes.
 63. The computer-readable token ofclaim 42, wherein the computer-readable token is less than or equal to 2kilobytes.
 64. The combined token of claim 51, wherein the combinedtoken is less than or equal to 2 kilobytes.
 65. The combined token ofclaim 51, wherein the inner token is less than or equal to 2 kilobytes.